Postmarking and canceling machine



No. 6|5,03l. Patented Nov. 29, 898. E. R. NALMBOBG.

POSTMARKING AND CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.) (No Model.) l7 Sheets-Sheet l.

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Patented Ndv. 29, I898.

No. 615.03i.

E. R. MALMBOBG.

POSTMARKING AND CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.)

I7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

Q Inventor: 67.41%?

Witnesses:

4: wnms vncns co. PHOTO-LINK. wasmuoro No. 6l5,03|.

E. R. MALMBURG.

POSTMARKING AND CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.)

Patented Nov. 29, I898.

(No Model.)

I7 Sheets-Sheet 4 iii JMMMM ML M W? N0. 6|5,03|. Patented Nov. 29, I898.

E. H. MALMBDBG. POSTMARKING AND CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.)

(No Model.) l7 Sheets-Sheet 5.

m: Ncmms PETERS co. PHOTD-LIYHO.. wgsnmomu. n. c.

No. 615,031. Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. R. MALMBOBG.

POSTMABKING AND CANGELING MACHINE.

(Application; filed July 31, 1897.)

(No Model.) I? Sheets-Sheet 6.

No. 6|5,03l. Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. R. MALMBORG.

POSTMARKING AND CANGELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.)

(No Model.) l7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

I. 8 fi No. 615,03l. Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. B. MALMBOBG.

POSTMABKING AND GANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 81, 1897.)

(No Model.) l7 Sheets-Shoat 8.

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No. 6|5,03|. Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. R. MALMBDRG.

POSTMARKING AND GANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.)

I7 Sheets-Sheet 9.

(No Model.)

N0. 615,03l. Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. B. MALMBOBG.

POSTMARKING AN D CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.) (No Model.) l7 Sheets-Sheet l0.

Mix 685 5;

No. 6l5,03l. Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. B. MALMBORG.

POSTMARKINGv AND GANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.) (No Modal.) l7 Sheets-Sheet 1|.

716232 eases. fnwe vz-fo i":

No. 6l5,03l. Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. B. MALMBORG.

POSTMARKING AND GAN CELING MACHINE.

(Application filed. July 31, 1897-) (No Model.) l7 Sheets-Shoat l2.

No. 6l5,03l. Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. R. MALMBORG.

PDSTMABKING AND GANGELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.) (No Model.) l7 Sheets-Sheet l3.

"m: NORRIS PETERS cc.. PHOTO-LITNO.I WASHINGTON.

No. 6l5,03l. v Patented Nov. 29, I898. E. R. MALMBORG.

POSTMARK-ING AND CANGELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.) (No Model.) I7 Sheets-Sheet l4.

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Patented Nov. 29, E898.

E. R. MALMBORG.

POSTMARKING AND CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 31, 1897.)

I7 Sheets-Shaun I5 (No mdem' Invemi? r:

ml nesses:

No. 6l5,03l. Patented Nov. 29,1898. E. R. MALMBORG.

POSTMARKING AND GANGELING MACHINE. (Applicafiqn filed July 31, 1897.)(No Model.) l7 Sheets -Sheet [6.

q. a R Q e e e e e e e e jag-Z g k ii fi M \Q S- I w m "N Q R g EN N R\w '21 S No. 6l5,03|. Patented Nov. 29. I898. E. R. MALMBORG.

POSTMARKING AND CANCELING MACHINE.

(Application filed July 81, 1897.) (No Model.) l7 Sheets -$heet l7.

NITED TATES Fries.

PATENT ERNST R. MALIWIBORG, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO WARREN B.MARTINDALE, OF ROCHESTER, INDIANA.

POSTMARKING AND CANCELING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 615,031, dated November29, 1898. Application filed July 31, 1897. Serial No. 646,646. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ERNST R. MALMBoRc, a citizen of the United States,residing'at Ohicago, county of Cook, State of Illinois, have invented acertain new and useful Improvement in Postmarking and CancelingMachines; and Ideclare the following to be a full, clear, and exactdescription of the same, such as will enable others skilled in the artto which it pertains to make and use the same, reference being had tothe accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to machines for postmarking mail-matter andcanceling the postage-stamps, and is of the class in which themail-pieces are taken from a miscellaneous pile and fed singly to themachine, the mechanism by a continuous series of mechanical operationspostmarking the mail-pieces with the name of the post-office, the monthand year, day of the month, hour and minute (a. m. or p. m.) that theletter passes through, and canceling the stamps, the marked mail piecesbeing delivered in an orderly stack for subsequent distribution.

The machine comprises a feed mechanism for carrying the mail-pieces tothe marking mechanism, printing mechanism for postmarking them andcanceling the stamps, including also time mechanism for automaticallychanging the time indicated by the postmark, and stacking mechanism forreceiving the marked pieces and adding them to the stack.

WVith reference to the present state of the art my improvements consistin part in providing mechanism whereby a number of persons may feed amachine at one and the same time and providing means for causing eachseparate mail-piece to arrive at the markingcylinder at the appropriatetime, thus enabling the machine to be worked to its full capacity andavoiding the necessity of running it empty a portion of the time; also,in the novel construction of the time-printing mechanism contained inthe marking-cylinder, the construction of the impression-roller andoperation of the marking and impression cylinders in conjunction with aretardingfinger adapted to time the entrance of the mail-piece betweensaid cylinders; also, in the novel construction and mechanism forreceiving and stacking the said mail-pieces.

In the drawings, Figure 1 a top view of the complete machine, showingthe general plan. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the right-hand end of themachine, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a plan View of one of the hoppersof the feed mechanism. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the lefthand end of themachine, as shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an elevation of a portion of amachine, looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is anelevation looking in the direction of arrow 6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is anelevation lookingin the direction of arrow 7, Fig. 2. Fig. 8 is asectional view of parts in elevation on the line 8 8 of Fig. 4. Fig. 9is a cross-section on the line 9 9 of Fig. 3. Fig. 10 is a section onthe line 10 10 of Fig. 7. Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line 11 11,Fig. 7. Fig. 12 is a sectional View on the line 12 12, Fig. 2. Fig. 13is a detailed view of the ball-bearing, as shown in Fig. 12. Fig. 14 isa side elevation of the printing-head. Fig. 15 is a cross-section on theline 15 15 of Fig. '14. Fig. 16 is a vertical section on the line 16 16of Fig. 14. Fig. 17 is a detail of the pawl for actuating the stampmechanism. Fig. 18 is a plan View of the printing and impressioncylinders. Fig. 19 is a side elevation with parts in section. Fig. 20 isa vertical section of the stacking mechanism in line 20 20 of Fig. 23.Fig. 21 is a side elevation of the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism of thestacker. Fig. 22 is a section on the line 22 22 of Fig. 21. Fig. 23 is aplan view of the receiving-table with a portion of the stackingmechanism removed. Fig. 24 is a side elevation of the receiving-table.Fig. 25 is a View from the top of mechanism shown in Fig. 24.

In carrying out the invention A, Figs. 5, 6, 7, and 12, represents asuitable standard extending from the floor or other support, and abovethis are plates A A A supported successively above each other by thebolts A. On a level with the plate A is an extension A Fig. 8, the outerend of this plate A being supported by a suitable standard extendingalso to the floor or other support.

operative parts of the machine are carried by The 'ings B in the platesA A.

the plates A, A A and A, as hereinafter explained.

I will first describe the marking and canceling mechanism and afterwardthe mechanism for carrying the matter to the canceling mechanism.

Referring to Fig. 5, 1 represents a suitable driving-shaft journaled inbearing B, extending from the plate A. On this shaft B is a beveled gear13 Figs. 7 and 11, which meshes with the beveled gear B on the uprightshaft B, Fig. 5, the latter being journaled in a bearing 13". (Shown bydotted lines, Fig. On this shaft B is a pinion B, which meshes with thepinion B 011 the shaft B Fig. 10, the latter journaled in suitable bear-The upper end of the shaft B carries the printing-head C, in which islocated the time-printing mechanism, which I will presently describe.

Referring now to Fig. 10, D is a shaft journaled in the plates A A Fig.6, and journaled thereon so as to have a horizontally-oscillating motionis an arm D, and journaled on the upper end of the shaft D is anotherhorizontally-oscillating arm D the two arms being connected together bya bolt D so that they will oscillate in unison. The opposite ends ofthese arms support the shaft D, Figs. 6 and 10, and on the upper end ofthis shaft D is what Iwill term the impression-roller D Figs. 1, 2, and6, as just explained. The arms D D which carry this impression rollerD", oscillate, and consequently the roller can yield toward and from theprinting-roller C. A spring D tends to normally keep theimn'ession-roller against the printing-roller C. On the shaft D andadapted to revolve thereon is a pinion D, Fig. 10, which meshes with apinion D keyed to the shaft D, so that a revolution of the shaft 13(which drives the printing-roller C) also revolves the shaft D, andconsequently the impression-roller D.

I will now describe the construction of the printing-head and will referparticularly to Figs. 12, 13, 14, and 15.

On the standard A is a suitable clock E, of any desired construction,adapted at predetermined intervals to oscillate the arm 6. By referenceto Fig. 12 it will be seen that the shaft B is made hollow.

c is a rod, Figs. 12 and 123, ivoted to the arm c of the clock andextending upward therefrom. On its upper end it is provided with a yokewith a plate a pivoted in said yoke by the pintles c". e is another rod,provided with the collars c 6 located above and below the plate 0,separated therefrom by the balls 6.

It will be seen by the construction just described that the rod 0 willimpart its vertically-reciprocating motion to the rod elwhile at thesame time the rod 0 can have a free rotary motion. Screwthreaded to thelower end of the shaft 13 and adapted to revolve therewith is a casing Econtaining a bellows E the rod 0" being engaged to one end of saidbellows. A tube or duct F; leads from the interior of the bellows to thebore of the shaft 13*, suitable packing a being employed to make anair-tight joint. It will thus be seen that the oscillations of the arm 6will be imparted to the bellows while the latter is continuouslyrotating, and the bellows will send air-impulses through the bore E upto the head O. In the head O is another bellows 0', connected with thebore by the tube G a tight joint being insured by the packing c. On theend of the bellows O is an arm 0, Fig. 15. Pivoted thereto is a lever O,supported from the post C in the head C. Pivoted to the opposite end ofthe lever O is a link C.

O is a shaft pivoted in the head O and carrying a series ofratchet-wheels O and accompanying gear wheels or pinions C. On thisshaft is also a yoke made up of the arms 0", Fig. 1G, andconnecting-strip C. In this yoke is pivoted the pawl-piece 0 Fig. 17.(Also shown by dotted lines, Fig. 15.) The link 0 is pivoted to thisyoke O C, so that the impulse imparted by the bellows O is transmittedthrough the arm C lever O", link O, and yoke O O to the pawl-piece C Thepawls c on this pawl-piece engage the ratchet-wheels C and revolve them,a springimpelled pawl C being provided for each ratchet-wheel to preventbackward movement.

C is another shaft pivoted in the head C, carrying a series of pinions Owhich mesh with the pinions O, and O is another shaft pivoted in thehead O, carrying a series of gears O", which mesh with the gears 0.Engaged to each pinion O is its corresponding wheel bearing on theperiphery the figure or other mark which it is desired to print.

It will thus be seen that through the mechanism just described theimpulses imparted by the bellows C will be transmitted to and willoperate the printing-wheels G which project through the periphery of thehead 0.

It will be observed by reference to Fig. 10' that the shaft C isjournaled in the plates C and the latter are held in place in the headby the screws C Fig. 14. Engaged to these strips C are plates Cbearingthe marks that are more or less permanent-that is to say, thename of the month and the year-and outside of this is the plate O forholding the plates 0 in place, and this latter plate 0 also holds inplace the circular plate C on which may be placed any marksdesired-such, for instance, as the name of the post-office where thestamping takes place. The plate O is held in place by the screws 0 Thusit will be seen that by removing the plate O the plates carrying thename of the place, the month, and the year may be removed and changedand by loosening the screws (J the plates C carrying theprinting-wheels,can be easily removed and cleaned without interferingwith the balance of the mechanism in the head.

I wish at this point to call attention to the fact that the pawl-piece Cis located at substantially the center of the revolving head 0, so thatthe centrifugal force due to the revolution of the head 0 hascomparatively little effect on it; also, that the pawls O have theirbodies substantially on a radial line drawn from the center of the headthrough the pivotal point of the pawls, so that centrifugal force willhave substantially no effect on these pawls; also, that the yoke 0 C hasits body lying in the plane of the radial line drawn from the center ofthe head through the pivotal point of the yoke, so the centrifugal forcewill have substantially no action on this piece to move it, and that themovable end of the bellows lies in a plane corresponding to the radiusof the head, so that the centrifugal force will have substantially noeffect to move it; also, that the lever C has arms of equal length, sothat the lever is balanced and the revolution will not tend to inove it.

I will now describe the construction of the impression-roller D On theperiphery of this roller is a covering of any suitable substance,preferably soft rubber d, to provide a yielding surface and also toproperly engage and move the letters past the printinghead. At d theperiphery is cut away, and adjacent to this opening cl is a finger d incircle with the periphery of said roller. This finger is engaged to thepost d extending upward from the arm D so that when the roller D yieldsthis finger will yield also. The end (1 of the finger, Fig. 18, isdetached and held in position by the spring d and normally pressedagainst the periphery of the disk W. Now, as will be seen by referenceto Fig. 2, (shown by dotted lines,) the printing mechanism in the head 0will reach the letter just after thejaw (i of the opening d reaches it,or, in other words, the rubber d on the periphery of the head D engagesthe letter just before the printing mechanism comes in contact with it.The result of this is that if a letter is fed to the rolls and reachesthem before the printing mechanism has completedits revolution and isready to print the letter is held back by the end 61 of the finger d andbeing opposite the opening in the roller D there is nothing to move italong, and consequently it remains stationary until the jaw d of theroller reaches it, picks it up, and carries it between the two rollersas it is printed. Thus no matter if there is a variation in the speed ofthe feed to the printingrolls (and the variation is never more than thelength of the opening at) the stamp will always be placed on the letterthe same distance from the end. Mounted above the printing-head andjournaled on its casing at the center thereof is a disk WV, having itsperiphery, Fig. 19, flanged, as at W, between which is placed a rubberband W extending around the disk. The end 61 of the finger d restingagainst the rubber band W and the disk IV, is held normally stationaryand the resistance offered to the progress of a mailpiece on thefeed-belt is sufiicient to stop and retain it until grasped by the jawof the impression-roller d, when the mail-piece is carried between theprinting and the impression rollers, the finger d yielding with theimpression-roller and the disk rotating so as to oifer no resistance tothe progress of the mail-piece.

I will now describe the inking mechanism. Located on the shaft B is apulley F, Fig. 5, and journaled on the projecting arm F, eX- tendingfrom the plate A is another pulley F connected with the first by a beltF". Integral with or connected with the pulley F is a disk F Fig. 2.Pivoted to the plate A is a lever F and journaled therein are rollers FF The pivotal point of the lever F is underneath the roller F. Thebearing for the roller F is slotted, as shown, and the disk F beingloose on its shaft, is held normally against the roller F by the springF Normally the roller F is kept in contact with the printing-head by thespring F, the pressure being regulated by the stop-pin F Thus it will beseen that with ink spread upon the face of the disk F (the disktraveling in the pan F which contains ink) the roller F will pick up theink from the face of the disk F distribute it on the roller F and thelatter will distribute it on the type. Of course as the disk F travelsthrough the pan F both faces will be inked, and to prevent that on theface not in contact with the rollers F from running down to the bearingsI provide the grooved flange F The roller F and the disk F both havingmovable bearings and held by spring contact will keep all the inkingdevices in contact with each other. If desired, the belt F may bedispensed with and the inking devices revolved by the contact of theroller F with the printing-roller.

I will now describe the mechanism for feeding the letters or otherarticles to be marked or canceled to the printing-head. Supported fromthe plate A Fig. 8, by suitable standards A", is a table A Fig. 8. Thistable A forms What I will term the feed-ta ble that is to say, it is thetable which supports the feeding mechanism and beside which theoperators stand to feed the mail-pieces. Connected with and supported bythe table A is a series of feeding mechanisms A A A A Fig. 1, arrangedalternately on each side of the table; but as they are duplicates ofeach other I will describe particularly but a single one. J on rnaled inbearings A in the end of the plate A is a pulley A over which is passedthe feed-belt G, Fig. 5. The opposite end of this feed-belt is supportedfrom the pulley G, journaled in the end of the plate A This is the mainfeed-belt of the machine and passes directly beneath the printing andthe impression rollers 0 D as shown in Figs. 1, 5, 6, andlS. On theshaft of the pulley G is another pulley G G is a belt passing over thepulley G2 and over another pulley G on the shaft B. Thus

